Improvement in school-desks



T. REDMAYNE SCHOOL-DESK.

Patented Nov. 2,1875

F? Y. RE

V WITNESSES: ZW.

ATTORNEYS N- PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, I; (2y

UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE THOMAS REDMAYNE, OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND,ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM REDMAYNE. 1

IMPROVEMENT INISC HOOL-DESKSQ Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 169,478, dated November 2, 1875 application filed July I7,1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS REDMAYNE,OfShefiield, in the county of York, England, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in School-Desks, of which the following is aspecification The invention relates to improvements in school-desks, bywhich the board or plane surface which forms the desk is capable ofbeing adjusted and fixed either in a horizontal position, to serve as atable, in a slightly-inclined position, to serve as a desk, or in anearly vertical position, to serve as a back to the seat, which isordinarily arranged in connection with such desks.

It is also applicable to music-stands and other similar articles, inwhich the angle of a board or plane surface is required to be altered.

The invention consists in mechanism for ad-- justing and altering theangle of the desk, and also of mechanism for looking or fixing the boardor desk when it has been adjusted in the required position, so that itcannot be altered, except by releasing the locking mechanism.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a front elevationpartly in vertical transverse section, and Fig. 2 an end elevation',partly in section on line 0 c, Fig. 1, of my improved school-desk.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A in the drawing represents a frame or standard for carrying the desk,which, if a seat is used in conjunction therewith, is connected by thebroader base-plate with another standard, A, of lesser height, and ofsuch shape that the lower one serves to support the seat. The standardsand connecting base- -plate may be made of any suitable material,

such as metal or wood, but I prefer to make them of cast-iron. Where thedesk and seat are of moderate length standards are arranged at or nearboth ends of the same but where they are of greater length additionalstandards are placed at one or more points between the end standards.

When the invention is applied to a music-.

Stand, reading-desk, or similar article of short length, the centralsingle standard only is necessary.

The seat B is attached to a T-piece, bracket, or arm at the top of thelower of the two standards, which is constructed of such height that itsuits the children or other persons that are to use the desk. Atsuitable distance below the top of the desk-standards A is arranged abracket-frame, to which a book-shelf, G, is applied by fastening-screwsor otherwise. Above the book-shelf is arranged, as part of the standardA, a frame-work or support, D, that secures in a recess at the innerside the wheel E, which is provided with notches cat its circumference.Below the wheel, and at a central point of standard, A, on thebracketpiece carrying the book-shelf, is arranged a tooth, stud, orcatch, b, that projects through a slot, at; of the book-shelf. The toothb fits intothe notches a of the wheel when the same is turned to dropthereon. The wheel E is made of any convenient diameter, not greaterthan the width of the top of the standard,

and does not turn upon any pin or center, but has a large circularcentral aperture, e. At opposite points of the wheel are formed, by therecess of support D, lugs .1, that are at a level slightly below that ofthe center of the wheel, and in such a position that, when the wheelisforced down with one of its notches on the tooth, the lugs bind atopposite points on the wheel, and retain the same perfectly firm andfree from shaking. By raising the wheel vertically s'ufficiently todisengage the tooth from the notch it can be turned round until eitherof the notches is above the tooth, and when again forced down it is heldas firmly in its new position as before. The desk-board F is bolted orfixed to a top bracket of the wheel E, and its position altered with theturning of the wheel, so that it can be set either into a horizontalposition, to serve as a table, or in inclined position, to serve as adesk, or in nearly vertical position, to serve as a back to the seat, orin any other desired position, a suitable notch being made upon thecircumference of the wheel to correspond with such position. No centralpin or bearing at all is used for the wheel, as the desk can be that thewheel can be raised until completely disengaged from the tooth beforethe circumference of the central aperture in the wheel touches the pin.The central pin may also be made with a cam, g, for forcing down thewheel on the locking-tooth by revolving the same by a fixed ordetachable handle, 9, which, if turned, carries the cam down on thelower side of the central hole, and locks thereby the iboard, swingingin the support of the main Wheel into position on the tooth. When thehandle and cam are turned back the wheel is '1 with a locking-device forholding the. notched released, and can be turned; as required. 7

In, place of this mechanism a pivot-pin with cam and handle may also beattached to the wheel, and turnedagainst the central pin for locking thewheel.

' firmly in any position it cannot be altered without the possession ofa proper handle or key for the purpose.

Theink-ve'ssels have to be so fixed intothe desks and constructed thatthey cannot be detached from the same, and close hermetically,preventing the falling out of the vessel, and the spilling of the ink.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters- Patent- 1-. The combination of a desk board, at tached to anadj usting-wheel with central aperture and notches at the circumference,with a recessed support or frame-work of the deskstandard, and with acentral tooth or stud of the same, so that the wheel is held firmly atany point of its circumference, and adjusted by being vertically raisedfrom the tooth, substantially as and for the purpose shown anddescribed.

2. The combination of the wheel of the deskstandard, and fitting on thetooth or stud,

wheel rigidly in contact with the detent or In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification in the presence of two sub scribingwitnesses.

THOMAS REDMAYNE. Witnesses:

EDWARD WATKINSON, JOSEPH D-AWSQN.

